Ankara challenges black market oil claims

ANKARA, Turkey, Sept. 15 (UPI) -- Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildiz said a report Ankara wasn't doing enough to interrupt oil ties to the Islamic State was part of smear campaign.

Yildiz said the government in Ankara is abiding by laws meant to curb the trade of oil taken from territory controlled by the Islamic State.

"We have not been informed about it, and the whole world knows we would take necessary measures if we were told about something like that," he said Monday.

The Saturday report in the New York Times suggests NATO ally Turkey can't be persuaded to do what it takes to interrupt a black market for oil. James Phillips, a regional export at the Heritage Foundation, said the Turkish market may be benefiting from cheap oil smuggled by terrorists.

"I'm sure there are substantial numbers of Turks that are also profiting from this, maybe even government officials," he said in Saturday's article.

The Turkish government has so far balked on getting behind an international effort to take on the Sunni-led militant group. Yildiz said the article in the Times, which relies heavily on senior U.S. officials speaking on background, is meant to damage Turkey's reputation.

"I believe this report has a purpose," he said.